Tenby International School

Early Years

Your child’s first experience at school is crucial to how they will approach learning for the rest of their life. The Early Years Department at Tenby Schools are committed to ensuring that your child develops into a creative, happy, confident, independent lifelong learner.

All children arrive with different attributes and needs; therefore personalised learning is at the heart of our provision. The way that you child engages with other people and their environment - active learning (Motivation), creative and critical thinking (Thinking) and playing and exploring (Thinking) – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner. We provide the children with the tools to develop their learning characteristics, which will lay the future for the skills they will need in years to come.

The curriculum is based on the new Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum incorporated with additional worldwide strategies to make sure your child is getting the best possible education. We ensure that there is a balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning throughout the day, which take place indoors and outdoors. Your child will experience practical play-based activities to ensure they reach their full potential. It is our priority that all children have the time to learn, play, make friends and grow.

The EYFS is based around 7 areas of learning, each area is of equal importance and are planned following the interests of the child that is purposeful and creative.

The three prime areas are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; understand appropriate behavior in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Physical Development – to develop co-ordination, control and movement. To understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Communication and Language – to develop confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

The four specific areas are:

English – to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write.

Mathematics – to develop skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.

Understanding the World – to make sense of the physical world and the community.

Expressive Arts and Design – to express and explore a wide range of media and materials. To share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.

The Primary School

Primary school students in the international school follow the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) which is based on the National Curriculum for England, adapted for international students. This dynamic curriculum is being rapidly taken up by international primary schools all over the world. It follows a child-centred, thematic approach with rigorous assessment to ensure not only that each child’s progress is monitored and enhanced but also that children enjoy their schooling.

Students in Key Stage 1 (5 – 7 years old) and Key Stage 2 (7 – 11 years old) study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Information Communication Technology (ICT) together with Geography, History, Design & Technology, Music, Physical Education, Art & Design and Malay. Chinese or French in introduced in Key Stage 2 as an additional foreign language. External assessment at the end of Key Stage 2 is through the Checkpoint tests administered by Cambridge International Examinations.

A programme of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is provided to all students and, in addition, Agama provision is made available for Muslim students.

The Secondary School

Secondary school students in the international school follow the programmes of study of National Curriculum for England appropriately modified for international students. Throughout Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9), all students study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Information Communication Technology (ICT) together with Geography, History, Design & Technology, Music, Drama, Physical Education, Art & Design and two further languages (one of which will be Malay and Mandarin or French as the second). External assessment at the end of Key Stage 3 is through the Checkpoint tests administered by Cambridge International Examinations.

In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11), students in the international school choose from a range of courses leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. All students follow courses in English and Mathematics and are encouraged to select a broad range of subjects from Art & Design, Business Studies, Design & Technology, Drama, Economics, Geography, History, French, Malay, Mandarin and Physical Education. Additional Mathematics is also available for pupils selected by the school.

At both secondary key stages, a programme of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is provided to all students and, in addition, all Agama provision is made available for Muslim students.